Salvations 2009

Ross Lunz made this custom light fixture from recycled goods for Salvations 2009.

The trash of yesterday becomes the coveted furniture and home decor
of today at the hands of artists in the second annual Salvations show
at The Shops at Canal Place.

Sponsored by The Green Project, Salvations is a juried
competition of two dozen pieces made from salvaged and recycled
materials. It is on view for free through Thursday, and all entries
will be auctioned off Friday during a fundraising gala for The Green
Project.

Salvations started last year in response to positive
reactions to The Green Projects' annual show of fashions made from
recycled items. That show, which will be held in July, is a fundraiser
for the project's Recycle for the Arts program, which provides
affordable art and crafts supplies to the public.

"The fashion show ... has been pretty successful," says Angie Green,
executive director of The Green Project. "We decided to try it in a
bigger way with furniture, so every year in November we enlist the help
of architects, designers and others to build furniture and lighting
using salvaged and recycled materials. The rules are that it needs to
be (composed of) at least 90 percent recycled materials. A lot of the
materials come from trash piles." Some artists shop at The Green
Project or other places that sell used, salvaged or recycled goods, she
says.

The artists have three months to make the items for the
show.

A custom display shelf by Joe Doherty

"We never know what's going to happen or what the pieces
will look like," Green says, adding that both events also promote the
project's message of sustainability. "Green rebuilding is the new hot
topic and using recycled materials is just part of that," she says.
"There's also great creativity in New Orleans, and people can look at
items and see multiple uses."

The grand-prize winner at Salvations will receive
$1,000, and four others will win $250 each.

The Salvations gala is from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday at
The Shops at Canal Place. It features food, drinks, live and silent
auctions, and entertainment by the Panorama Jazz Band and the Courtyard
Kings.

Tickets are $50 for the gala and $100 for a patron
party. Members of The Green Project receive a $10 discount. To order
tickets, call 945-0240 or email info@thegreenproject.org.
— Kandace Power Graves